Anthony Pettis eager to test stand-up against Jose Aldo

UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo has looked relatively untouchable on his feet since signing with Zuffa, going so far as to finish eight of his twelve opponents with strikes. However, a closer look at his record shows the majority of Aldo’s foes have had backgrounds based on grappling rather than aimed at stand-up action.

Of course, that won’t be the case when he faces Anthony Pettis in a few months at UFC 163. “Showtime” has been kickboxing since his teenage years and owns an arsenal populated with unique strikes. The dynamic has Pettis excited about what’s to come on August 3 as he recently relayed in an interview with Bleacher Report.

“He’s a great fighter, he’s a stand-up guy and he’s going to test me,” admitted Pettis before adding, “I feel like my stand-up’s something he’s never seen. He’s not going to be able to find training partners that can do what I do.”

“I’m used to the leg kicks,” continued Pettis, referring to Aldo’s notoriously brutal blows. “I’ve been kicked there since I was five, so I feel like my range is longer than him. I’m bigger than him, I can match him in speed and power and I’ve got a style like nobody else’s.”

The 16-2 Pettis is coming off consecutive knockouts of Joe Lauzon and Donald Cerrone, both of whom he finished in highlight reel fashion. If he is able to stop Aldo with strikes he will be the first person to do so in the Brazilian’s 23-fight career.